Want to shoot pictures like a pro? Be a Rebel
By CANDACE RONDEAUX
Published May 30, 2005
Whether you pick up the Canon Rebel XT or the Olympus Evolt, you'll definitely put down your point-and-shoot for good after you snap your first picture with one of these digital dynamos.
Both are examples of single-lens-reflex digital cameras that are ideal for the photo-neophyte who hungers to shoot like a professional without paying high prices for pro-level equipment.
A few months ago, I bought a Nikon Coolpix 8700, one of the best high-end digital point-and-shoots at the time. I've shot everything with it - from friends at the beach to oil workers on an overcast day - and most of the photos have turned out great. But a few days with these nicely priced digital SLRs made me an instant convert.
And I'm not the only one who thinks so. According to a recent report from the IDC research company, lower prices on digital SLRs will drive more people to buy these cameras.
The Rebel XT (as low as $852 online), the Evolt (as low as $836 online) and my Nikon share many of the same features: 8-plus megapixels, built-in popup flash, auto scene modes and a wide range of shutter speeds and aperture settings. But the Canon is a big step up from Nikon's high-end point-and-shoot model and a class above the Olympus Evolt.
Lightweight and user-friendly, the Rebel is possibly the best serious hobbyist digital SLR camera for less than $1,000. The first aspect you'll notice when you take the Rebel out of the box is how well the camera fits in your hand. It's just the right size and has none of the bulkiness of the Evolt.
The Rebel's feature buttons are clearly marked and easy to figure out, even for beginners. A standard Rebel kit includes an 18-55mm lens that's a snap to put on. The lens in the Canon kit is decent quality, but serious photographers might want to consider buying another lens to enhance the camera's overall versatility.
The Evolt kit includes two lenses: a 14-45mm and a 40-150mm. Both made for a lot of fun experimentation. Olympus has taken a page from its top competitors, making the feature buttons easy to understand and use.
The true test of a good digital camera, however, is how long it takes to move from assembly and setup to actual picture taking. The 10-step "quick setup" instructions included with the Olympus Evolt proved more arduous and time-consuming than promised. I fiddled around with the Evolt's manual settings for quite some time before I finally gave up, set it on auto mode and let the camera do the thinking for me.
I was especially disappointed by the lack of range in the Evolt's light sensitivity. While the Rebel's ISO range goes from 100 to 1600, the Evolt carries as high as only 400 in auto mode. For folks who want to experiment with indoor or night photography where light levels are low and a flash is inappropriate, the difference is a big one.
Meanwhile, I needed only to glance at the Rebel's instruction booklet to figure out how to adjust the manual mode setting to my liking. With the battery already charged, it took all of 15 to 20 minutes before I was comfortable enough with the Rebel's settings to begin shooting.
Shot for shot the Rebel simply produces better quality photos than the Evolt. The lack of ISO range on the Evolt proved pretty annoying. The Rebel and Evolt come with a shutter speed of as much as 1/4000. But the Rebel came out slightly ahead on fast-action continuous shooting with 3 frames per second continuous shooting compared with the Evolt's 21/2 frames per second.
Many of the photos I took with the Evolt had a kind of murky and washed-out quality. The photos I took with the Rebel were much more vibrant.
With two lenses and lens hoods included, the Evolt certainly gives the Rebel XT a run for its money when it comes to the bottom line. But Canon's range of lenses, accessories and services make the Rebel XT a better bargain in my book.
- Candace Rondeaux is a reporter in Palm Harbor.
SNAPSHOTSample of SLR (single-lens-reflex) digital cameras
Canon Rebel XT
PRICE: As low as $852
FEATURES: 8-plus megapixels; built-in popup flash; auto scene modes; lightweight; standard kit includes 18-55mm lens
QUICK REVIEW: Possibly the best consumer digital SLR camera on the market for less than $1,000
Olympus Evolt
PRICE: as low as $836
FEATURES: 8-plus megapixels; built-in popup flash; auto scene modes; standard kit includes two lenses (14-45mm and 40-150mm) and lens hoods
QUICK REVIEW: Disappointing range in the light sensitivity; ISO range up to only 400 on auto mode
- CANDACE RONDEAUX, Times Staff Writer